Randy,
You are correct.
I should have been more specific. In Boidae (Pythons and Boas) the offspring have, so far, always been female. They found "true" parthenogenesis in Burmese Pythons (Python m. bivittatus).
The same is true of Several Monitor species (Varanus sp.), Blind Snakes (Ramphotyphlops sp.), Old World Wall Lizards, (Lacerta sp.) and New World Race runner type lizards (Cnemidophorus sp.). This is the ZW "true" type of parthenogenesis....producing only female offspring. So far species of Boidae (which includes Pythons, such as Ball Pythons) have only shown true parthenogenesis forming only female (ZW) offspring.

However as Randy stated, there are certain species that can reproduce via AP type parthenogenesis (automatic parthenogenesis)...producing all male offspring. Males are ZZ. (If WW lines up...it causes the ova to be non-viable.) Hence, there is a reduction of viable ova and offspring produced from this type of parthenogenesis.

A list of several species of reptiles displaying this AP type are: Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus), Aruba Island Rattlesnakes (Crotalus unicolor), Garter Snakes (Thanmnophis sp.) and Aurafura File or Australian Elephant Trunk Snakes (Acrochordus arafurae).

Interesting stuff.
.....................................................

On to another subject...

Kevin (Mr. Satan himself) brought up a good point. The possibility of the ova being potentially viable, but non-fertilized eggs.
As Kevin stated...this is a very common occurrence in reptiles.

I recall several times that I have received phone calls from concerned owners of Iguanas, Chameleons or Bearded Dragons...
The conversations go something like this:

"My Adult Male Iguana wont eat. It looks really fat...but it just stopped eating! What do I do???"
I say, "Well..I suspect that your Adult "Male" Iguana is actually an Adult Female...and I think SHE is full of eggs."

They say, "No...I am sure it is a Male...and besides, I raised it from a baby and it has always been alone....so it can't have eggs."
Then I suggest they take it to the Vet and ask for an X-Ray or an Ultrasound. Eventually they do...and sure enough the Iguana is confirmed to be an Adult female...full of non-fertilized, but potentially viable ova.
(Note: Once the ova have developed to the stage of the being shelled...they cannot be fertilized naturally.)
But...Could it be done with a syringe after ovoposition??? This leaves me with lots of creative ideas!!! (Can you see the wheels turning?)

The process of laying infertile ova could be likened to the monthly cycle of shedding ova in human females (the period).
It is somewhat similar. (However, I prefer women without such scaly skin!)

Since Susan noticed veins in the eggs then I suspect that it is most likely a case of sperm retention...although it could possibly be a case of True Parthenogenesis (ZW) female babies!
Perhaps if only one sex is produced, Susan could check with her State University to see if there is an eager biology/genetics student who is hungry for an interesting subject to write a paper about.
It might answer some questions....without costing you?

Good luck with the eggs and keep us posted.

Harlin Wall - WALL TO WALL REPTILES!
970-245-7611
970-255-9255

[ Show Entire Thread ]